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[metamods]

 

CONFLUENCE.

➢ This is part one of our Starstruck event. At this stage, we are asking that everyone make a choice: Will their character head to the past to make a change to the timeline, or will they remain in the future and hope for the best? It's possible that "hoping for the best" aligns with the thought of spending as much time as possible with loved ones before you're wiped away. That's a very distinct possibility. Otherwise, they may stay in the future to try to guide the people in the past: letting them know what changes are good or bad for the future. Or if the world looks like it's about to explode. That helps, too.

➢ The next log will be posted on September 20, 2023 and will take place on April 2, 1985. We will have an event plotting post going live for this on September 8th.

➢ The majority of the groundwork for this event will take place in 1985 and there will be no immediate way for characters to return to the future, or characters from the future to head to the past. We will work with anyone who wants to create a new link between the past and present to make sure the best future is brought about. Either way, once the door shuts, Willow Maiden is tapped out of all of her energy.

➢ Depending on player actions, there is a very strong chance that the world of 2023 will be radically altered by the actions of the past. We won't be completely changing the setting, but may apply changes to better align with the needs of the current game population.

➢ However, a few things that are up in the air: the Godfall event could be prevented, Chaos Gate could be the big bad of 1985, and the world's perception of metas and meta powers could be radically changed.

EARLY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 1st, 2023.

You are in a forest, lush and evergreen. The sky above you is dark and infinite, but when you stare into it you feel only the rush of possibility. The trees wave to you in the breezeless meadow and you know it's not simply the wind. They are welcoming you to their home and hoping you feel welcome here too.

And then they gestured to the weathered path stretching out before you into the thicker part of the woods.

As you walk it, the line between leaves and stars begins to blur.

The Willow Maiden is the sun of this small universe and she smiles at your approach. Her wooden face is stiff and still, but you feel her joy nonetheless. She is as proud of you as a parent, and so glad you heeded her call… whether you meant to or not.

We haven't much time, she says, her like a soft bell ringing gently inside your mind. I had hoped we would speak again before She found her way here, but her loyalists ensured I did not have the strength. Now what I have left is given to keeping this world alive, and to keeping her out… But still, I wanted to speak with you - all of you - before what's next comes to pass. This world is at a crossroads, and what you do next will determine both its future… and its past.

You have lived this day a number of times. Infinite branching timelines, each with different choices. Some of you will remember all in the weeks to come, others will not. This is not the first time I tell you that new stars are falling today but it will be the last… at least, in this world as it is now.

An image fills your mind and you wonder if you've looked up to the stars above you. After a while, they reveal a young woman – Chaos Gate – who emanates with grief and an intense energy that feels as if it's been sucked out of the world around her. The Willow Maiden imparts a meaning to what you're seeing: Chaos Gate attempting to rewrite history, hoping to destroy what she once helped create.

I cannot stop her from entering the past. The Willow Maiden says. And there will be a precious few moments after she crosses that it will remain open. You must follow her into the past and stop her from ripping the world asunder in her pain. The past is malleable, but not in the way that she intends. Not with the power that she's wielding.

The Willow Maiden looks at you, and you feel her hope. She wants you to help – to make things different from how they will be if Chaos Gate's grief is allowed to reign supreme. Or different from how they might be even without that.

Then you wake up wherever you are just as the gray fingers of dawn begin to stretch through the sky.

11:58 PM, SEPTEMBER 1ST 2023, CENTRAL CITY, MICHIGAN .

Everyone receives Willow Maiden's message.

But not everyone falls from the sky, as if shuffled from one reality to another. That experience belongs to the newcomers who have fallen from the sky time and time again; the dream, however, only occurs before the final instance of flight down to the area below. As if prepared by the dream from Willow Maiden or otherwise, everyone is called out to help, ready to use whatever powers or technology still functions in this world to provide a soft landing.

Down below, a Confluence seems to start: an abrupt whirlwind of energy. The time: 11:58 PM. A gentle voice guides anyone who's come to the site toward the doorway that opens before Chaos Gate. It's distant, strained, but if you reach into the recesses of your sleepy mind, you'll realize that it belongs to Willow Maiden. She needs your help. She needs you to go forward and follow Chaos Gate.

Though the answer isn't apparent or obvious, you might know one thing for sure: whatever you're witnessing caused the repeated days, like time was forced on repeat while Willow Maiden protected the arrivals of newcomers and sought a solution for the chaos that could erupt. If she hadn't done this, this world would be done. Over. You don't know what that means, but you know that this isn't a theoretical feeling. Chaos Gate will destroy the world. Something must be done. Willow Maiden herself can't find the words or the strength to tell you as much, but it's imprinted on your mind. You know.

Now you have a choice: head into the doorway that Willow Maiden has opened, or stay behind. Some others have arrived there and may need some help in getting acclimated. More than that, their arrival, without knowledge of where or why they're there, can disrupt the timeline in unexpected ways. But disruptions aren't as bad as complete obliteration. Willow Maiden believes it's a risk that's worth taking.

There is a sense that this choice must be made here. Willow Maiden only has so much strength to prevent any further passage of time. This door will close soon.

11:58 PM, MARCH 17, 1985, CENTRAL CITY, MICHIGAN

Although many new arrivals may recall 2023, they may wake from their repeated dream in the 1980s. The atmosphere is completely different: a handful of people shuffle by in leg warmers. On the other side of the street, there are a few guys who look like they're right out of a Van Halen music video. But more obvious than anything is this: it's not Halloween at all. Between the cars, the advertisements, and everything in between, someone can readily pick out one truth: it's the 1980s. 1985 to be exact.

Unlike the arrivals in the future, these arrivals are a lot softer: vines reach out to set arrivals down on the ground. The vines themselves are shaky in their grip, as if whatever strength they're holding on to is rapidly slipping away. Inwardly, you have an answer for this: her time is slipping away. And she is the tree-like woman from your dreams, warning you about a devastating possibility in a world where you've just arrived (or feel as if you've just arrived).

Just as a car peels down the street burning rubber, everything abruptly stops. Lighting streaks the sky overhead, and a gateway opens nearby. Someone steps out and then disappears, but the door doesn't close. Here, there is a choice, arising unbidden in your mind: stay here and help or head through the portal and wait. There is a sense that this decision needs to be made now. Whatever strength the Willow Maiden has is abruptly slipping away.

Once that choice is made and everyone has decided, the gate between 1985 and 2023 will close. Whatever will be will be.

For better or worse.

MARCH 18-APRIL 1st 1985, EVERYWHERE

Once the portal closes, everyone left in 1985 will be very aware that they are stuck in this past. Any power or ability to move through time will be barred, almost as if that's just out of reach. That doesn't mean it can't be regained or found. The power is simply lacking an energy source. Even in this neck of the timeline, Chaos Gate is sucking up all the energy around her; her grief acts like a parasite on the meta energy of this world.

CLIFF NOTES.

➢ Any technology brought from the future to the past won't work. Any cellphones and other devices are right out the window (including any teleporters). Instead, people can cook up alternative means of communication. Or they can rely on snail mail. You do you. Travel to other cities will need to involve flight (if someone can fly or planes), powers, cars, trains, and anything else that comes to mind.

➢ Chaos Gate has disguised herself in this past. Through some inklings left in your memories, you'll know that Chaos Gate wants to eradicate the cult that caused a heap of problems in the future – as well as fight and destroy the god behind it all. Even if the Shining God probably deserves a punching or three, destroying her is very bad.

➢ A teen vigilante named Starstruck is the most powerful meta in this timeline. Despite his intense power levels, he's doing a lot of good in this world and has gained a lot of fame as a result. If anyone wishes to seek out Starstruck and get a sense for him, they're free to! This can happen in the NPC ENGAGEMENT thread.

➢ Savvy onlookers will also notice a group of individuals who always seem to be circulating around where Starstruck helps out citizens. While presenting as fans of his, they have ulterior motives – namely, they're planning these crimes to involve Starstruck so that they can get a good read on his abilities. A small handful of them will have a familiar emblazoned sun on them.

➢ There are, of course, villains all around Central City. This is before the crime syndicates had their grip on the city, so there is a lot of chaos that goes on in the darker parts of the city. There is a lot of corruption within the local government, leaving the city ripe for the taking for would-be villains. Feel free to make up bad guys to keep from causing trouble or to dig into the backstory of, as it might link back to the present in some way.

➢ Younger versions of a wide variety of NPCs can be found HERE if they want to be sought out for answers. Thanks to the weirdness of superpowers, they'll be more open-minded to the predicament than one might expect of a stranger approaching another stranger.

➢ All other world engagements can be brought to QUESTIONS & ENGAGEMENT. These will be addressed quicker than our usual engagements, given they are event-related.

WILDCARD.

Metaheroes takes inspiration from all walks of comics. Take a look at the CITIES to get an idea as to what day to day life is like in the other cities. Perhaps you've encountered a supervillain (or hero) who needs to be thwarted, or a metahuman with unusual powers creating bizarre effects.

Comments

QUESTIONS & ENGAGEMENT.

[metamods]

[purplexing]

Does this affect the attempts being made to track Chaos Gate in the current timeline?

[metamods]

It depends upon when you'd like to track her down - before or after this intro log, specifically. She will be untraceable in 2023 after this intro log, but we're happy to work with you guys on them finding her before that. However, they can visually track her into the past, and know that's where they need to go to hunt her down. Following that plot thread will (at this time) necessitate them heading into the past.

[purplexing]

Okay, okay, so just to be clear, all roads will ultimately lead to back to the future past.

[levelshift]

For the sake of being able to rp is it ok for Accelerator's choker to keep working in the past? Or have some equivalent he can use lol I'm flexible here.

[metamods]

Accelerator's choker will continue to work in the past. Given it was built and is reliant only on itself to function and doesn't need outside resources, it'll be alright. If you would like to play with it fitzing out, please feel free! Otherwise he'll be fully functional (or as fully functional as the collar provides) in the past.

A younger Mechanima can be found in the past, so that is an option for solving any choker-related issues. If this is an option you'd like to take, let us know and we're happy to let you know what finding him would entail!

[codicies]

If someone gets trapped in the past, does the timeline they're in affect the future/present everyone else is playing in? Could they do a Doc Brown and leave messages for their friends in the future?

[metamods]

Hi!

Yes, they certainly can! Of course, they'd have to agree upon the means and the spot that the media used for the messages would be, and make sure that the media wouldn't deteriorate over time. For example, depending on the place and the media, something like paper would deteriorate when wet, so if they left the letter to the future in some place that it would break down, the message might be garbled.

Feel free to have fun with this depending on the circumstances that you'd like to play with.

Re: QUESTIONS & ENGAGEMENT.

[mostdangerousbird]

Is there time between being called to the portal and getting there to reach out to others?

[metamods]

Hi there!

Since the dream came before the portal open, they'd have some time to discuss! Consider the amount of time to be about a day or so. We don't mind changing this up depending on how much time is needed for IC plotting, so please reach out if there are any issues with timing.

Re: QUESTIONS & ENGAGEMENT.

[forceforlight]

Slightly plot adjacent, but:

If somebody were to try to pull a Back To The Future, kinda. Manages to pull together a few hundred in 1984 or earlier bills (no more than $500). Would it be possible to invest that back in '85?

[metamods]

Hello!

I believe we answered this question in our plot workshop that we just got up - Dick is welcome to bring some bills back to 1985 and invest them. We're just fine with this working out however you would like - if Dick does some research beforehand and finds great stocks to invest in, he's welcome to find himself significantly richer than he had been previously. If he invests poorly. . . well, you tried!

[batsymbol]

Hi, mods.

Bruce and his team are part of the going into the 80s when asked to. Bruce being Batman and all, he'll want to investigate/track down Chaos Gate in the 80s since that'll (mostly) be his role within the team as the detective and all. What's the best way to go about this? Should I just list off how he (and Nightwing) would go about investigating/searching for her? Or are there signs/clues he and Dick would be able to pick up on/discover to find her path, etc.?

Thanks for any insight, mods. I appreciate it.

[metamods]

Chaos Gate will be targeting the members of the cult. She appears to have a list and intends to cut them down before they can cause harm. There are some outposts in Sunset Falls, but they have an unusually heavy presence in Central City.

Her motives are absolutely murderous and she is leaving bodies here and there, she does not seem to have the mental wherewithal - or care - to do this and not get caught.

If they look for Fantastic's parents, that's the surest way to chart her path. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas are currently wealthy teenagers, attending high school in Central City. The same highschool that Starstruck is attending.

If you would like to tell us how and where Bruce and Dick will be searching for clues, we would be happy to provide tidbits specific for them!

NPC ENGAGEMENT.

[metanpcs]

Mechanima

[levelshift]

It's shortly after Accelerator arrives in the 1980s that he realizes something is wrong with his choker. Breaking an ATM so he has some period-appropriate cash shouldn't be that big of a deal, but the damn thing is shorting out partway through the process, sending a painful shock through his head. So, after getting the money, he's forced to switch gears temporarily. As much as he'd like to start looking for Chaos Gate his own brain has to come first.

While he has no idea of Mechanima in the 80s will have the ability or skills to help, he's probably his best option under these circumstances. Accelerator will be tracking him down by hunting criminals and villains in Central, interrogating them by way of violence until he starts getting some direction to find the guy.

[metanpcs]

Central City is a different animal in this time. It's citizens are colder, more cut-throat. Accelerator will find that there's no real organization to the villains, they all seem to operate independently and often avoid each other.

Yet all of them know Mechanima's name. Most are also unwilling to give much information about him, out of a sense of loyalty or fear. After the third use of force, one finally caves and tells Accelerator that Mechanima is being held in a human jail. It's just temporary, they're gonna be moving him somewhere else once they sort out the details of his transport.

The prison is a farcry from the more advanced meta-prisons from the future. It's just a regular jail, built to house normal humans, albeit it is slightly reinforced. The power dampening tech is in its infancy here, and it wouldn't be hard for Accelerator to find a way in and out.

Starstruck

[faceguy]

Once he hears about this guy, Leo will be interested in his deal. He’ll seek him out whenever he might be accessible.

His disguise watch isn’t working so he’s in full turtle mode but he does have on clothes, a hat, and sunglasses. He had embraced 80s fashion to an absurd degree.

[metamods]

It won't be hard to find Starstruck, at least. He and his "team" of other metateens all seem to be focused on helping out at a neighborhood level, and can usually be found patrolling the same city routes. He seems to be everywhere these days, working hard to help the little folks in this chaotic city feel supported. Helping children build "the biggest sandcastle ever" seems like a poor use of energy manipulation powers, but it's how he's using his.

The costume he wears is just slightly less tacky than what Leo has on. It's a neon-blue jumpsuit, with a shooting star logo stitched into it with the wrong colored thread. The mask seems to be the most well made portion of the costume, it completely covers his face and hair. It's clearly homemade and judging from the craftmanship, and the height and build of its wearer, its a teenagers best idea of what is 'cool'.

He does a doubletake at Leo's approach, though whether it's the fashion or the turtle that shocks him is hard to say - either way, he looks a little guilty as he turns to face him fully.

"Greetings, citizen! Are you in need of assistance?" It's a voice meant to put on a show. One hand is still extended, maintaining the flow of energy keeping the sand aloft. The kids in the sandbox are still shoveling sand into it, and it's grown to an impressive height.

is there a wildcard option aka surprise me

[purplexing]

There's no cell service and no internet. This decade is the worst.

But Donnie's still pushed through it. Once he's found out just when they are, the significance has been pretty clear. Oh, there's a whole lot of things that could potentially get screwed up NO PRESSURE!!

He's not particularly sure about the political climate when it comes to Metas but it always never hurts to be on the safe side, especially when he's clearly not human. Hoods and jackets only do so much, a high collar to hide the lower half of his face helps. But night is when he's used to operating anyway, and he'll take advantage of those shadows. Most of his tech's inoperable but he's managed to configure some night-vision goggles to hold his mystic crystal so he can still pick up any interesting readings at the very least. He's also heavily modified a CB radio to listen for anything that might be worth checking out.

And if he's restless enough, then he invites himself to kick in some would-be villains' teeth, mostly because stealing from someone who stole first makes it fair game, right? Er... he is totally helping. Yes.

[metamods]

Hello!

Donatello is welcome to pick up any low level crimes on his CB radio – including burglaries, normal street crimes, and anything else that the local police would be responding to. There's a couple of different routes we could go with this!

1. If you'd like, Donatello could piss off the wrong crime syndicate, causing some stir and painting a target on his shell. This could include a bigger villain for Don to get tangled with, depending on just how you'd like to play it.

2. On the flip side, since Donatello isn't completely human, if someone catches a glimpse of what he looks like, he could cause quite the stir. This could also be the focus of a late night inhuman cryptid vigilante that gets whispered about through the city. Possibly with people creating larger than life stories about him that are bigger than the last.

Let us know what you'd like to go with!

Eros

[avatarfortruth]

They all have too many questions and not enough information, but potential intelligence isn't the only reason Diana touches lightly down outside Sunset Falls to begin her search for the God of Love. After all, it's always a good idea to check in with the local pantheon.

(He's far from her first choice, but Athena, as in her own world, is nowhere to be found.)

She has no idea if his mansion is here in this time or not, but it seems as good a place to begin looking as any.

[ OOC: apologies for the deleted/reinstated tag, had to finish up a related thread to make sure this was good! ]

[metanpcs]

Hi there!

Eros is fairly easy to find, he lives in a mansion in Sunset Falls. If she knocks, he'll have her in for rose petal tea and shortcakes. If she accepts the invitation, he'll have her as company. He'll also note that people don't usually stumble upon him without wanting something, so he'll ask her if there's something that she desires from their encounter.

Let us know if there's any questions with this!

Chaos Gate (pre-time travel)

[faceguy]

Donnie, Accelerator, and Leo tracked down Chaos gate to the West family mansion (with some magical help from Oliver). Donnie will be running checks for any surveillance with his check, and Leo will portal them inside so they don't have to break any windows or pick any locks.

Once inside they'll split up to look for Chaos Gate. They're being sneaky (or at least trying to be).

[metanpcs]

The search party will find that a storm is brewing directly over the West mansion in Sunset Falls. Katherine West is not in her bedroom, though it looks as though it was recently ransacked, torn apart with items tossed every which way.

The boys will find her in her father's study, rifling through drawers with a growing frustration. She's not in costume, she's not Chaos Gate - she's simply Katherine. Her hair is drawn into a frantic bun and she's not wearing her usual glamourous makeup or clothes, she looks - run ragged. Lke she hasn't slept since Fantastic's downfall.

At the sound of footsteps her head jerks up, hand reaching for a weapon at her hip. "Now's really now a great time, robbers. Get out if you know what's good!"